According to "Record of History, chronicle of six kingdoms ( by Si ma Qian)", in warring states period (475-221.BC), in the second year of king Hui wen of Qin kingdom (336.BC), he made first a type of coin. This coin is said to be "Ban liang".
This coin has a Chinese character inscription "Ban liang" on the obverse. Ban means half, liang is an ancient unit of weight. Ban liang is the first coin of a circle shape square hole coin and was a standard coin in Qin kingdom.
In the year 221.BC, king Ying Zheng of Qin kingdom united China for the first time. He gave his own name as "Qin shi huang"(the first emperor of Qin). He determined Ban liang to be the standard coin of his Chinese empire.
In the period of Qin empire, one liang was about 16g, and was 24 zhu. Zhu is also an ancient unit of weight. Therefore Ban liang (half liang) is about 8g. Zhu is about 0.67g.
Qin Dynasty was a great empire and influenced all other countries. Qin became the derivation of a word "China" and a circle shape square hole coin became the standard coin not only in China but also in other many Asian countries for more than 2.000 years.
By the way, Ban liang of warring states period is termed "warring state Ban liang". Ban liang of united Qin empirer (221-206.BC) is termed "Qin Ban liang".

HR-1

Warring state Ban liang.
Warring states period (475-221.BC).
Qin kingdom.
Casting era : The second year of king Hui wen (336.BC) - The end of warring states period (221.BC).
O : From observer's point of view, right : Ban (= half), left : liang (= an ancient Chinese unit of weight).
R : Flat surface and no pattern. A little comblike stripes.
15.8g.
D-32.8mm.
VF.
Sold.

HR-2

Warring state Ban liang.
Warring states period (475-221.BC).
Qin kingdom.
Casting era : The second year of king Hui wen (336.BC) - The end of warring states period (221.BC).
O : From observer's point of view, right : Ban (= half), left : liang (= an ancient Chinese unit of weight).
R : Flat surface and no pattern.
13.4g.
D-34.0x32.0mm.
F.
Sold.

HR-3

Warring state Ban liang.
Warring states period (475-221.BC).
Qin kingdom.
Casting era : The second year of king Hui wen (336.BC) - The end of warring states period (221.BC).
O : From observer's point of view, right : Ban (= half), left : liang (= an ancient Chinese unit of weight).
R : Flat surface and no pattern. A little comblike stripes.
12.8g.
D-34.0x33.2mm.
F.
Sold.

HR-4

Warring state Ban liang.
Warring states period (475-221.BC).
Qin kingdom.
Casting era : The second year of king Hui wen (336.BC) - The end of warring states period (221.BC).
O : From observer's point of view, right : Ban (= half), left : liang (= an ancient Chinese unit of weight).
R : Flat surface and no pattern. A little comblike stripes.
11.2g.
D-28.5x28.0mm.
VF.
Sold.

HR-5

Warring state Ban liang.
Warring states period (475-221.BC).
Qin kingdom.
Casting era : The second year of king Hui wen (336.BC) - The end of warring states period (221.BC).
O : From observer's point of view, right : Ban (= half), left : liang (= an ancient Chinese unit of weight).
R : Flat surface and no pattern.
10.8g.
D-32.0mm
F.
Sold.

HR-6

Qin Ban liang.
Qin empire (221-206.BC).
Casting era : As above.
Emperor : Qin shi huang (the first emperor of Qin).
O : Chinese character inscription : Ban liang.
From observer's point of view, right : Ban (= half), left : ling (= an ancient Chinese unit of weight).
R : Flat surface and no pattern.
8.8g.
D-37.5x35.5mm.
VF.
Sold.

HR-7

Qin Ban liang.
Qin empire (221-206.BC).
Casting era : As above.
Emperor : Qin shi huang (the first emperor of Qin).
O : Chinese character inscription : Ban liang.
From observer's point of view, right : Ban (= half), left : ling (= an ancient Chinese unit of weight).
R : Flat surface and no pattern. A little comblike stripes.
7.4g.
D-36.0x35.5mm.
F.
Sold.

Shuichi Yamashita
1696, Aoyagi
Ichihara-shi, Chiba
299-0102, JAPAN
E-mail : ge6128@i.bekkoame.ne.jp